Indicating closure plug for circuit breakers



May 11 1926. A 1,584,556

F. B. KNISKERN INDICATING CLlOSURE PLUG FIOR CIRCUIT BREAKERS Filed Sept. 8, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet'l BY A l I f INVENTOR dym/ 6;, ATTORNEY May. 1l 1926.

F. B. KNISKERN INDICATING CLOSURE PLUG FOR CIRCUIT BREAKRS Filed Sept. B, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet WITNESSES: /WMW um Patented May ll, i926.

erica il Sterns par FLOYD B. KNISKERN, OF WILKINSBRG', PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC 6L MANUFACTURING- COMPANY, A COBPQRATIOIT OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

INDICATNC-r CLOSUB/E PLUG FOR CERCUIT BREAKERS.

Application filed September 8,` 1925. Serial No. 54,918.

My invention relates to encased circuit interrupters and particularly to an indicating plug for the operating openings oi the casings ot such circuit interrupters.

One' object of my invention is to provide a casing for an electrical device that shall give an external indication ot the operative position of the enclosed device by the position or' a plug inserted in the casing.

Another object ol' my invention is to provide an insertahle plug for the casings for electrical apparatus, the position orn which is dependent upon the operative position of the enclosed electrical device. n

A 'further object of my invention is to provide a reversible plug` for the casings or" electrical apparatus ot suoli 'forni that the position in which it may he inserted in the casing at any time is dependent upon the operative position ol the enclosed apparatus.

in underground electrical distribution systems, circuit intei'rupters and the like are generally housed in water-proof casings. ln order to operate such devices, it is customary practice to remove a plug from the casing, insert a handle and operate the circuit interrupter to the desired position, after which the handle is removed and the plug is re-inserted in the opening' and screwed tight.

Unless a window is inserted in the casing, it is generally impossible to determine, from an external inspection, whether' the circuit interrupter is in its circuit opening or closing position. rlhe use of indicating' apparatus'depending upon shafts or plungers passing` through the walls ot the casingis undesirable for the reason that it is diiiicult to pack the joints and malte them tight tor long' periods of time.

v By my invention, l utilize a removable plug having different configurations at the ends thereof to indicate the position or" the circuit interrupter. The contipjurations conform to the positions of an indicating member of the circuit interrupter when it is in the circuit opening and closing'positions. Accordingly, it is possible to insert the plug into the casing only when the inward conliguration corresponds to the position or" a cooperating` circuit interruptor element. The outer tace of the plug always att'ords a Visual indication ot the position ot' the circuit interrupter within the casing.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is an elevational view ot a circuit interrupter and casing particularly adapted for use in underground service embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of my improved indicating' plug; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are elevational views oi the ends ot the indicating plug', showing the cX- posed configurations thereof when the circuit interrupter is in circuit-opening' and circuit-closingv positions, respectively.

Fig. 5 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of a modiiied form of my invention,

.Figs 6 and 7 are iront and rear face views respectively, of an indicating' plate embodying' my invention, when the circuit interrupter is in the circuit closingl position.

Figs. 8 and 9 are front and rear tace views respectively, oic an indicating' plate embodying my invention, when the circuit interi'upter is in the circuit opening' position.

My invention comprises, in general, a \vater-ti, 1jht casing' l in which is mounted a circuit interrupter 2 of any preferred construction that coinprises an operating' arm 3 that cooperates with an indicating; plug 4iinserted in the casing' l for indicating the operative 'position ot the circuit interrupter at any given time.

The casing l is ot a type commonly utilized in subway construction wherein it is esv'sentirai that thecnclosed electrical apparatus shall he water-tight. The plug' l is inserted in a threaded opening- 5 in the casing l. at a position adjacent to the operating' arm 3. rihe operating' arm S is mounted on a shaft 6 that, in turn, carries an arm 7 terminating in a pin 8 that extends into the opening 5.

The pluglis provided with a groove 9 on one oi its :faces and a groove 1l oi' larger diameter on its other tace. The grooves 9 and ll are adapted to alord clearance space for the pin 8 within the openingl 5 when the plug 4 is in its water-tight position. Since the position of the pin 8 changes relatively to the opening 5, with each actuation of the operating arm 3, the pin 8 is in position to enter the groove 9 of smaller diameter when :Hill

the circuit interrupter 2 is in its closed position, in which position, as is shown in Fig. 4, the legend Closed is exposed. l/Vhen the circuit interrupter 2 is in its open position, the pin 8 is in position to enter the groove 1l ot larger diameter, and, as is shown in Fig. 8, the legend Open is presented exteriorly o'l the casing l.

Referring to Figs. 3 and ll, the legend Open is applied to the end of the plug 4t having the groove 9 of smaller diameter and the legend Closed is applied to the end oit' the plug thaving the groove ll oit larger diameter. Accordingly, the legend exposed at any time is an indication of the condition or the operative position of the circuit interruptor, as is also the idle or exposed groove. Therefore, the legends refer to the condition ot the circuit interruptor and not to the groove that should be inserted in the opening 5.

ln the operation of'a circuit interrupter embodying my invention, the casing l is clamped about the circuit interrupter 2 with the shaft 6 in uxtaposition to the opening 5. The shaft 6 is then moved to cause the oper- `ating rod 3 to move the circuit interruptor 2 into the desired circuit-controlling position. rlhis may be done by inserting a handle through the opening 5 and engaging the arm 7, or the squared or slotted end of the shaft l6, as desired.

Regardless ci the manner of imparting a turning movement to the shaft 6, the positions of the arm 7 and pin 8 correspond to the operative position ot' the circuit interrupter. After the handle has been withdrawn, the plug a is inserted in the opening 5 with the groove 9 or l1 that will coincide with the position ot the pinv 8 facing inwardly. rlihe plug is then screwed into the casing l and the circuit interrupter is thereby rendered watertight. Should the pin 8 and the groove 9 or 11 fail to coincide, it will be impossible to screw the plug l into position, and the operator will receive warningnthat the. circuit interruptor is notin the desired operating position.

When it is desired to change the operative position oi the circuit interruptor, the plug l is removed, the shaft 6 is turned and, consequently, the position of the pin 8 relative to the opening 5 shifts correspondingly. The plug l is then turned end to end and screwed into the position relative to the pin 8 with the groove which had previously been idle and opening outwardly turned inwarc ly.

Since it is impossible to screw the plug l into its operative position, when the pin 8 andthe groove 9 or 1l do not coincide, the operator always has a true visual indication of the operative position of the circuit interrupter by inspection of the exterior surface of theindicating plug l.

Referring particularly to Figures 5 to 9 inclusive, l have shown a modiiied form of my invention in which a cover plate 21 for the opening 5 is screwed to the casing 1 by wing' nuts 22 having threaded portions 23 for cooperation with threads in the casing. rlhe wing nuts v22 pass through bosses 2e thatterminate in athreaded portion 25 in order to avoid accidental separation of the cover plate 2l-rom vthe wing nuts 22 when they are removed from the casing 1. A. crescent shaped lug 26 is formed on the rear or interior tace or thepplate 2l, and the pin 8 is adapted to lit between the ends thereof.

rllhe word` Closed is printed on the outer tace oi the cover plate at the position opposite the ends of the lug 26 and the word ()pen7 is printed on the outer face of the cover plate at a point corresponding-to the middle 0;"- the lug 26.

ln the operation ol this 'form of my invention, the circuit interrupter is manipulated With the result that the pin 8 is either in its upper or its lower position, as the case may be. The cover platell is then placed over the opening 5 so that the pin 8 lits between the ends of the 26. When the cover is so placed, the terni pen or Closed willbe in an upright position on the exterior or" the casing l, and will, accordingly, correctly indicate the condition oit the circuit brealrer. The wing nuts are then drawn up and thevcasing l is rendered water-prooi. llilith this form et my invention, it is impossible to .screw t ie cover plate 2l down, when the relative position of the ends of the lugs 26 and the pin 8 is abnormal for thereason that the pin 8 will engage the lug-5 and prevent thethreads of the wing nuts 22qrom-engaging the threads inthe casing l.

t will thus be seen that l have devised a simple and accurate position'indicator for enclosed electrical apparatus, which position indicator is 'free from rods or shafts extending through the walls ofthe housing, and it also avoids the necessity for windows, peep holes andthe like.

l do n otl wish to be restricted to the specitic arrangement oi parts herein'set forth, as various modiiications thereoia may beef- :lected without departing from the .spirit and scope oit my invention. l desire, therefore, that only .such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

l claim as my invention:

l. ln combination, a movable member comprising an arm, a casing for the member having an opening disposed in cooperative relation to the arm, and a plugv for the opening that is so constructed that its relative position inthe opening-fis cont-rolled bythe position of the arm.

2. ln combination, a member comprising an arm, a casing for-the member having an ico opening disposed in cooperative relation to the arm, and an indicating plug for the opening that is so constructed that its relative position in the opening is controlled by and is an indication of the position of the arm.

8. In combination, a member comprising an arm, va casing for the member having an opening disposed in cooperative relation to the arm, and aI plug for the opening having a differently spaced indentation on each of its faces for cooperation with the arm in different positions thereof, whereby the exposed surface of the plug is an indication of the position of the arm.

si. In combination, a member comprising an arm, a casing for the member having an opening disposed in cooperative relation to the arm, and a plug' for the opening having a differently spaced surface variation on each of its faces for cooperation with the arm in different positions thereof, whereby the Xposed surface of the plug is an indication of the position of the arm.

5. In combination, a member comprising an arm, acasing for the member having an opening disposed in cooperative relation to the arm, and a plug for the opening having a differently spaced groove in each of its faces for cooperation with the arm in different positions thereof, whereby the spacing of the exposed groove is an indication of the position of the arm.

G. In combination, a member comprising an arm, a. casing for the member having a threaded opening disposed in cooperative relation to the arm, and a threaded plug for the opening, the plug being provided with a differently spaced circular surface variation on each of its faces for cooperation with the arm in its different positions, whereby the surface configura-tion of the exposed end of the plug is an indication of the position of the arm.

T. In combination, a casing having an opening therein, a member within the casino' comprising means extending before the opening and whose position relatively thereto varies with the operative condition of the member, and a reversible plug for the opening, the plug being of such form that its relative position in the opening is dependent upon the position of the said means.

8. In combination, a. movable member, a

casing therefor having an opening, a member for insertion in said opening and coacting withl said movable member to indicate the position of the latter.

9. In combination, a movable member, a casing therefor having an opening, and a member for insertion in said opening, the position of said movable member determining the relation of the second named member whereby the latter indicates the position of the movable member.-

l0. In combination, a movable member having two positions, a casing for said member having an opening therein and a member for insertion in said opening in the one or the other of two relations corresponding respectively with said positions.

ll. In combination, a switch member havinO two positions, a casing therefor having an opening, a member for insertion in said opening, said members having cooperating portions whereby the position of said switch member determines the manner of insertion of the second member to indicate said position.

12. In combination, a movable member, a casing therefor having an opening therein, and means for closing the opening coacting with said movable member to indicate the position of the latter.

13. In combination, a movable member, a casing therefor having an opening therein, and means for covering said opening, the posit-ion of said movable member determining the relation of the cover member whereby the latter indicates the position of the movable member.

14. In combination, a movable member having two positions, a casing for said mem` ber having an opening therein, and a member for covering the ope-ning in the one or the other of two relations corresponding respectively with said positions.

l5. In combination, a movable member having two positions, a casing for said member having an opening the-rein, and a cover plate for closing said opening in the one or the other of two relations corresponding respectively with said positions.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this first day of September, 1925.

FLOYD B. KNISKERN. 

